Guide Me

Representative Text

1 Guide me, O my great Redeemer,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but you are mighty;
hold me with your powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.

2 Open now the crystal fountain,
where the healing waters flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
ever be my strength and shield,
ever be my strength and shield.

3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell's Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever sing to you,
I will ever sing to you.

Psalter Hymnal, (Gray)

Author: William Williams

William Williams, called the "Watts of Wales," was born in 1717, at Cefn-y-coed, near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. He originally studied medicine, but abandoned it for theology. He was ordained Deacon in the Church of England, but was refused Priest's Orders, and subsequently attached himself to the Calvinistic Methodists. For half a century he travelled in Wales, preaching the Gospel. He died in 1791. Williams composed his hymns chiefly in the Welsh language; they are still largely used by various religious bodies in the principality. Many of his hymns have appeared in English, and have been collected and published by Sedgwick. His two principal poetical works are "Hosannah to the Son of David," and "Gloria in Excelsis." --Annotati… Go to person page >

Translator: Peter Williams

Peter Williams (b. Llansadurnin, Carmarthanshire, Wales, 1722; d. Llandyfeilog, Wales, 1796) was converted to Christianity by the preaching of George Whitefield and was ordained in the Church of England in 1744. His evangelical convictions soon made him suspect, however, and he left the state church to join the Calvinist Methodists in 1746. He served as an itinerant preacher for many years and was a primary figure in the Welsh revival of the eighteenth century. After being expelled by the Methodists in 1791 on a charge of heresy, he ministered in his own chapel during the last years of his life. He published the first Welsh Bible commentary (1767-1770) and a Bible concordance (1773); he was also one of the annotators for John Canne's Welsh… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah
Title: Guide Me
Welsh Title: Arglwydd arwain trwy'r anialwch
Author: William Williams (1745)
Translator: Peter Williams (1771)
Meter: 8.7.8.7.4.7
Source: Welsh
Language: English
Notes: Swahili translation: See "Niongoze, Bwana Mungu"; Spanish translation: See "Peregrinos en desierto" by Thomas M. Westrup
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Scripture References:
st. 1 = Ps. 48:14, Ps. 73:23-24, John 6:31-35, Ex. 16:4
st. 2 = Ex. 13:21-22, Ps. 28:7

The great circuit-riding preacher/poet William Williams (b. Cefn-y-Coed, Carmarthenshire, Wales, 1717; d. Pantycelyn, Carmarthenshire, 1791) wrote the original Welsh text "Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch"–"Lord, Lead Me Through the Wilderness." It was published in his Alleluia (1745) and in his Caniadau (1762) with the title, "A prayer for strength to go through the wilderness of the world." Translated into some seventy-five languages, Williams's text has become universally popular in Christendom (and with the tune CWM RHONDDA, a favorite at Welsh rugby matches).

The English translation by Peter Williams (b. Llansadurnin, Carmarthanshire, Wales, 1722; d. Llandyfeilog, Wales, 1796), which began "Guide me, O thou great Jehovah," was published in his Hymns on Various Subjects (1771). That first stanza is still in use, but the remaining stanzas come from William Williams's own translation, which he prepared for The Collection of Hymns Sung in the Countess of Huntingdon’s Chapels (1771).

Pilgrimage is a much-used metaphor in Williams's texts. "Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer" draws on images from the Exodus story in the Old Testament: "bread of heaven" (Ex. 16), "crystal fountain" (Ex. 17), "fire and cloudy pillar" (Ex. 13:21-22). But the New Testament, Christocentric focus of the text is equally clear in the repeated final line of each stanza: Jesus is the "bread of heaven" (or "bread of life," (John 6), the "rock" who is our "strength and shield" (1 Cor. 10:4), and the victor over "death … and hell's destruction" (Rev. 1:18). Thus the change from the original “Jehovah” of the first line to "Redeemer" makes eminent sense.

William Williams and Peter Williams were contemporaries with a similar background. William Williams is usually considered to be the greatest Welsh hymn writer of the eighteenth century. He had begun to prepare himself for a medical profession, but the course of his life was altered when he was influenced by the ministry of Howell Harris, an evangelist associated with George Whitefield. Williams began to study for the ministry and in 1740 was ordained a deacon in the Church of England. After being refused ordination as a priest because of his evangelical beliefs, he joined the Calvinist Methodists in 1744. He became an itinerant evangelist and for the next forty-five years served as a leading figure in the revival movement in Wales. Williams's evangelistic preaching was greatly aided by his hymns, which were sung with great enthusiasm at revival and "society" meetings. Known as the "sweet singer of Wales," he wrote about eight hundred hymn texts in Welsh and over one hundred in English. They were published in Alleluia (1744), Hosanna I Fab Dafydd (1754), Hosanna to the Son of David (1759), Y Moro Wydr (1762), and Gloria in Excelsis (1771).

Peter Williams was converted to Christianity by the preaching of George Whitefield and was ordained in the Church of England in 1744. His evangelical convictions soon made him suspect, however, and he left the state church to join the Calvinist Methodists in 1746. He served as an itinerant preacher for many years and was a primary figure in the Welsh revival of the eighteenth century. After being expelled by the Methodists in 1791 on a charge of heresy, he ministered in his own chapel during the last years of his life. He published the first Welsh Bible commentary (1767-1770) and a Bible concordance (1773); he was also one of the annotators for John Canne's Welsh Bible (1790). In addition Williams published a Welsh hymnal, Rhai Hymnau ac Odlau Ysbrydol (1759), as well as Hymns on Various Subjects (1771).

Liturgical Use:
As a hymn of pilgrimage and prayer for divine providence; for various services and occasions on the Christian journey, including Old/New Year and the Easter season (given its Exodus theme).

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1998
=============================
Arglwydd arwain trwy'r anialwch. W. Williams. [Strength to pass through the Wilderness.] This was published in the firstedition of the author's Alleluia , Bristol, 1745, in 5 stanzas of 6 lines.
The first translation of a part of this hymn into English was by Peter Williams, in his Hymns on Various Subjects (vii.), Together with The Novice Instructed: Being an abstract of a letter written to a Friend. By the Rev. P. Williams, Carmarthen, 1771, Printed for the author.
W. Williams himself adopted the translation of stanzas i., ii., iii. and iv. into English, added a fourth stanza, and printed them as a leaflet as follows:—

"A Favourite Hymn,
sung by
Lady Huntingdon's Young Collegians.
Printed by the desire of many Christian friends.
Lord, give it Thy blessing!
i.
“Guide me, 0 Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand:
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more.

ii.
"Open now the chrystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey thro*:
Strong Deliv'rer, strong Deliv'rer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield.

iii.
"When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of deaths, and hell's destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
I will ever give to Thee.

iv.
"Musing on my habitation,
Musing on my heav'nly home,
Fills my soul with holy longings:
Come, my Jesus, quickly come;
Vanity is all I see;
Lord, I long to be with Thee!"

This leaflet was undated, but was c. 1772. During the same or the following year, it was included in the Lady H. Collection, 5th edition, Bath, W. Gye, No. 94. Stanzas i.-iii. had previously appeared in The Collection of Hymns. sung in the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapels in Sussex. Edinburgh: Printed by A. Donaldson, for William Balcombe, Angmoring, Sussex, No. 202. This is undated; but Mr. Brooke's copy contains the autograph, "Elizabt. Featherstonehaugh, 1772," the writing and ink of which show it to be genuine. We can safely date it 1771. It was repeated in G. Whitefield's Psalms & Hymns, 1773; in Conyers, 1774, and others, until it has become one of the most extensively used hymns in the English language.
There are diversities of text in use the origin of which in every case it is difficult to determine. The most widely known are:—
1. Where the 6th line in each stanza reads respectively, "Bread of heaven," "Strong deliverer," and "Songs of praises," the arrangement is from the Lady H. Collection, 1771. This form is given in nineteen out of every twenty hymnals which adopt the hymn, including Hymns Ancient & Modern &c.
2. Where the 5th line reads respectively, "Lord of Glory," "Strong deliverer," "Lord and Saviour," the text is from Cotterill's Selection, 1810 to 1819, where it is changed to the plural throughout.
3. Where the 5th line reads respectively, "Of Thy goodness," "Strong Deliverer," and "Grateful praises," the changes were made in Hall's Mitre, 1836.
4. The original, with the omission of lines 5 and 6 in each stanza, thereby reducing it to 8 7's, given in many American hymnals, appeared in the Prayer Book Collection, 1826.
In addition to these there are altered texts, as follows:
5. Guide us, 0 Thou great Redeemer, in Morrell & How, 1854; Scottish Episcopal Hymn Book, 1858, and others.
6. Guide us, Thou whose Name is Saviour. By J. Keble, re-written for the Salisbury Hymn Book, 1857, and repeated in the People's Hymnal, 1867, Sarum, 1868, the Hymnary, 1872, &c.
7. Guide us, Jesu, Holy Saviour. In the Parish Hymn Book 1863-75. This is Keble's alteration of Williams, again altered.
8. Guide us, 0 Thou great Deliverer. In the English Hymnal, by J. A. Johnston, 2nd ed., 1856, No. 167.
9. 0 Thou Great Jehovah, lead us. This form of the text is in Kennedy, 1863, No. 639.
10. Guide us, O eternal Saviour. In the Calcutta Hymn Book, 1862, No. 102.

This hymn in one form or another has been rendered into many languages, but invariably from the English. These translations included the Rev. B. Bingham's rendering into Latin, "Magne tu, Jehova," of the 3 stanza arrangement, given with the English text, in his Hymnologia Christiana Latina, 1871.

--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Tune

ZION (Hastings)


CWM RHONDDA

The popularity of Williams's text ("Guide me, O thou great Jehovah") is undoubtedly aided by its association with CWM RHONDDA, composed in 1905 by John Hughes (b. Dowlais, Glamorganshire, Wales, 1873; d. Llantwit Fardre, Wales, 1932) during a church service for a Baptist Cymanfa Ganu (song festival)…

Go to tune page >


Timeline

Media

You have access to this FlexScore.
Download:
Are parts of this score outside of your desired range? Try transposing this FlexScore.
General Settings
Stanza Selection
Voice Selection
Text size:
Music size:
Transpose (Half Steps):
Capo:
Contacting server...
Contacting server...
Questions? Check out the FAQ

A separate copy of this score must be purchased for each choir member. If this score will be projected or included in a bulletin, usage must be reported to a licensing agent (e.g. CCLI, OneLicense, etc).

This is a preview of your FlexScore.
Baptist Hymnal 1991 #56
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF)
The Book of Common Praise: being the hymn book of The Church of England in Canada (revised 1938) #406b
The Cyber Hymnal #2070
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #543
The United Methodist Hymnal #127
  • Bulletin Score (melody only) (PDF)
  • Bulletin Score (PDF)
  • Full Score (PDF)
Worship and Rejoice #501

Instances

Instances (601 - 700 of 1817)

Hymns of Grace #d108

Hymns of Hope and Courage #61

Page Scan

Hymns of Praise and Patriotism #77

Page Scan

Hymns of Praise with Tunes #67

TextPage Scan

Hymns of Promise #81

Page Scan

Hymns of the Advent #113

Page Scan

Hymns of the Ages #155

Page Scan

Hymns of the Ages #155

Page Scan

Hymns of the Centuries (Chapel Edition) #155

Hymns of the Christian Life #d131

Hymns of the Christian Life #d130

Page Scan

Hymns of the Christian Life #182

Page Scan

Hymns of the Christian Life #282

Hymns of the Christian Life #342

Page Scan

Hymns of the Christian Life #70

Hymns of the Christian Life. Rev. ed. #d135

Hymns of the Christian Life. Rev. ed. #342

Page Scan

Hymns of the Church Militant #73a

TextPage Scan

Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints #83

Page Scan

Hymns of the Church Universal #529

Page Scan

Hymns of the Church #399a

Page Scan

Hymns of the Church #399b

Page Scan

Hymns of the Faith with Psalms #41

Hymns of the Faith #79

Page Scan

Hymns of the Faith #452

AudioPage Scan

Hymns of the Kingdom of God #207a

Page Scan

Hymns of the Kingdom of God #207b

Page Scan

Hymns of the Kingdom of God #207a

Page Scan

Hymns of the Kingdom of God #207b

Page Scan

Hymns of the Kingdom of God #225

Page Scan

Hymns of the Living Church #273

Hymns of the Millennial Dawn #ad66

Hymns of the Millennial Dawn, with Music #d66

Page Scan

Hymns of the Morning #113

Page Scan

Hymns of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States, as authorized by the General Convention #177

Page Scan

Hymns of the Spirit #364

Page Scan

Hymns of the United Church #347

Page Scan

Hymns of the United Church #347

Hymns of Victory #266

Hymns of Worship and Praise #d39

Hymns of Worship and Remembrance #240

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service #313a

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service #313b

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service (15th ed.) #313a

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service (15th ed.) #313b

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service (Chapel Ed., 4th ed.) #239a

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service (Chapel Ed., 4th ed.) #239b

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service #313a

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service #313b

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service #238a

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service #238b

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service #41

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service #41

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service. (Chapel ed.) #239a

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship and Service. (Chapel ed.) #239b

Hymns of Worship and Songs of the Gospel #d89

Page Scan

Hymns of Worship #642

Hymns of Zion #d76

Hymns Old and New #188

Page Scan

Hymns Recommended for use in the Reformed Episcopal Church #127

Hymns That Every Child Should Know #d37

TextPage Scan

Hymns to the Living God #264

Page Scan

Hymns We Love #5

Hymns, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints #56

Hymns, Psalms and Gospel Songs with Responsive Readings #d109

Page Scan

Hymns, Psalms and Gospel Songs #207

Hymns, Religious and Patriotic #d16

Page Scan

Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship #455

Hymns, Selected and Original, for Sunday Schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church #d127

TextPage Scan

Hymns, Selected and Original #455

Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons 3rd Am. from 9th London ed. #d80

Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons #d72

Page Scan

Hymns #455

Page Scan

Hymns #455

Page Scan

Hymns #455

Page Scan

Hymns #455

Hymns #d46

Hymns #92

Immanuel Hymnal #d127

Page Scan

Imperial Songs #186

Page Scan

In Excelsis #530a

Page Scan

In Excelsis #530b

Page Scan

In Excelsis #876

Page Scan

In Excelsis #a530a

Page Scan

In Excelsis #a530b

Page Scan

In Excelsis #a876

Inspirational Songs for Sunday School, Social Worship, Missionary and Evangelistic Work #d57

Page Scan

Inspiring Hymns #27

Inspiring Hymns #297

Inter-Church Hymnal #d127

Page Scan

International Praise #171

International Singing Annual for Sabbath Schools #d22

TextPage Scan

International Song Service #227

Page Scan

International Song Service #32b

Jehovah's Praise #d56

Jesus Only, Songs and Hymns #d42

Jewel Selections #d55

Page Scan

Joy Bells #78

Pages

Exclude 1708 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us